STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The two-story Port Richmond building that was the scene of a raging fire that killed five this morning was cited for two violations in the last five years, according to Department of Buildings records.

Mother Leisa Jones, 32, and her four children -- Jermaine, 2, Melonie, 7, Brittnay, 10, and C.J. 14 -- perished in a three-alarm blaze at 302 Nicholas Ave. that broke out at about 4 a.m.

The first violation came in 2005 for an illegal conversion and another in 2007 for have "defective and exposed" electrical wiring. It is unclear how those were resolved, and whether the house was legally converted into four apartments.

The building is zoned as a two-family dwelling, but neighbors say that as many as 17 people lived in the 1,600-square-foot building.

The Department of Buildings lists the owner of the building as Alber Morcos.

Morcos is in Egypt now visiting relatives, according to neighbors.

City law requires landlords to install smoke detectors in all apartments and requires tenants to replace batteries.